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Friday, August 28, 2009

Champagne Daze

Yesterday K & S said:you've had the coolest jobs!You ain't seen nothin' Sweetie Darling.Paul Bocuse, Champagne Mumm's ambassador, suggested I do artwork for them and made introductions.They gave me a test assignment. Come up with a big group drawing they could gift their employees of tons of celebrities drinking Mumm. Can you spot Kate Moss? One of the Seagrams brothers is embracing a big bottle. *Note everyone isholding their glass by the stem. Never hold a champagne glass by the 'bowl'. Mustn't warm up those bubbles.The group drawing led to a portrait promotion program. Mumm wanted portraits painted directly onto Mumm bottles. I imagined my living room a sea of Mumm jeroboams. Last minute I suggested they printing their label design on my watercolor paper. I ended up with neat stacks of printed Champagne labels. One of the perks? I stayed at the Mumm mansion in Reims. The Champagne countryside is magnificent. There's a new fast TGV from Paris that takes just an hour. Don't miss it.

I also stayed a week at Veuve Clicquot'scountry estate in Verzy.Moi and a giant refrigerator full of Champagnejeroboams.They said, "Do help yourself" Right!" Someone popped with petit dejeuner in the morning. The rest of the time I communed with grapevines. They still usestraw baskets to pick the grapes in Champagne.There's a lot of partying in the Champagne Biz. Servers are dress up as old-fashionedcellar men. They used to turn the resting Champagne bottles.

Very fun to draw.

This is not me embracing the giant Mumm bottle. That's my French boss.This is me partying at the Chelsea Arts ClubBelle Epoche Ball held at London's Albert Hall. We dressed up as characters from Degas/Lautrec paintings. I went as a Degas dancer.Roger, the club concierge, said,"If you add one more ribbon to that outfit, you'll look like a dog's dinner." Don't you just love the Brits. Pass the Bolly Sweetie Darling

Carol, I always read your posts via email, but I had to pop in today to say Congratulations on this delightful gig! I know these jobs do not come without a lot of incredible work, so you deserve all the wonderful perks which come with this work! I am smiling broadly for you today!

Beautiful sketches ! Do you do dancers ? Hello - I had to leave a note for your to say how wonderful your blog is and how much I've enjoyed reading your posts. They are creative, interesting and unique - and your photo's are divine too ! Best wishes and thank you for sharing them ...

You make life look like such fun and now I am going to have to find a way to share champagne with friends in my garden. Congratulations on receiving a bonus and all the perks to your job. It looks like even having fun can be a lot of work. Thanks for sharing your life.

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♥carol gillott♥

l'Ile Saint Louis, Paris, Ile de France, France

Hi I'm Carol Gillott,
My Mom taught me watercolors at 5 and I'm still at it. Now I live by the Seine on l'Ile Saint-Louis. Do consider subscribing to my Paris letters and maps on Etsy and enjoy a taste of Paris in your mailbox every month to savor with a hot chocolate and croissant. I paint Paris dreams.